Bridging Environmental Management Accounting and Climate Change: A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Business Operations in Malaysia

Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) has emerged as a vital tool in enabling organisations to internalise environmental costs and align strategic decisions with sustainability imperatives. Amid growing concerns about climate change, businesses are increasingly challenged to balance financial performance with environmental responsibility. This concept paper explores the role of EMA as both a mitigative and adaptive mechanism in addressing climate change impacts, with specific reference to Malaysian publicly listed companies. By integrating regulatory perspectives, sectoral practices, and EMA stages, this paper presents a conceptual framework illustrating how EMA supports carbon management, regulatory compliance, and long-term resilience. The study contributes to both academic discourse and practical strategies by linking EMA methodologies with corporate responses to climate risks, environmental policies, and stakeholder expectations. This paper provides the groundwork for future empirical validation in developing economies, particularly within Malaysia’s regulatory and economic context.